ZeroNet

Decentralized websites using Bitcoin crypto and the BitTorrent network

Why?

• We believe in open, free, and uncensored network and communication.
• No single point of failure: Site remains online so long as at least 1 peer serving it.
• No hosting costs: Sites are served by visitors.
• Impossible to shut down: It's nowhere because it's everywhere.
• Fast and works offline: You can access the site even if your internet is unavailable.

How does it work?

• After starting zeronet.py you will be able to visit zeronet sites using http://127.0.0.1:43110/{zeronet_address} (eg. http://127.0.0.1:43110/1EU1tbG9oC1A8jz2ouVwGZyQ5asrNsE4Vr).
• When you visit a new zeronet site, it tries to find peers using the BitTorrent network so it can download the site files (html, css, js...) from them.
• Each visited site becomes also served by you.
• Every site contains a site.json which holds all other files in a sha512 hash and a signature generated using site's private key.
• If the site owner (who has the private key for the site address) modifies the site, then he/she signs the new content.json and publishes it to the peers. After the peers have verified the content.json integrity (using the signature), they download the modified files and publish the new content to other peers.

Features

• Easy, zero configuration setup
• Password-less BIP32 based authorization: Your account is protected by same cryptography as your bitcoin wallet
• Namecoin .bit domains support
• SQL Database support: Allows easier site development and faster page load times
• Automatic, uPnP port opening
• Plugin for multiuser (openproxy) support
• ZeroFrame API for dynamic sites
• One click ZeroNet client updater

Screenshots

More screenshots in ZeroNet docs »

How to join?

Windows

• Download ZeroBundle package that includes Python 2.7.9 and all required library
• Unpack to any directory
• Run zeronet.cmd

It downloads the latest version of ZeroNet then starts it automatically.

Alternative method for Windows by installing Python

• Install Python 2.7
• Install Python ZeroMQ
• Install Python Greenlet
• Install Python Gevent
• Install Python MsgPack
• Download and extract ZeroNet to any directory
• Run start.py

Linux

Debian

• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get install build-essential python-dev python-pip git
• sudo pip install pyzmq gevent msgpack-python
• git clone https://github.com/HelloZeroNet/ZeroNet.git
• cd ZeroNet
• Start with python zeronet.py
• Open http://127.0.0.1:43110/ in your browser and enjoy! :)

Other Linux or without root access

• Check your python version using python --version if the returned version is not Python 2.7.X then try python2 or python2.7 command and use it from now
• wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
• python get-pip.py --user pyzmq gevent msgpack-python
• Start with python zeronet.py

Mac

• Install brew
• brew install python
• pip install pyzmq gevent msgpack-python
• Download, Unpack, run python zeronet.py

Current limitations

• No torrent-like, file splitting for big file support
• No more anonymous than Bittorrent
• File transactions are not compressed or encrypted yet
• No private sites
• You must have an open port to publish new changes
• Timeout problems on slow connections

How can I create a ZeroNet site?

Shut down zeronet if you are running it already

$ zeronet.py siteCreate
...
- Site private key: 23DKQpzxhbVBrAtvLEc2uvk7DZweh4qL3fn3jpM3LgHDczMK2TtYUq
- Site address: 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
...
- Site created!
$ zeronet.py
...

Congratulations, you're finished! Now anyone can access your site using http://localhost:43110/13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2

Next steps: ZeroNet Developer Documentation

How can I modify a ZeroNet site?

• Modify files located in data/13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2 directory. After you're finished:

$ zeronet.py siteSign 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
- Signing site: 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2...
Private key (input hidden):

• Enter the private key you got when created the site, then:

$ zeronet.py sitePublish 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
...
Site:13DNDk..bhC2 Publishing to 3/10 peers...
Site:13DNDk..bhC2 Successfuly published to 3 peers
- Serving files....

• That's it! You've successfully signed and published your modifications.

If you want to help keep this project alive

Bitcoin: 1QDhxQ6PraUZa21ET5fYUCPgdrwBomnFgX

Thank you!

• More info, help, changelog, zeronet sites: http://www.reddit.com/r/zeronet/
• Come, chat with us: #zeronet @ FreeNode or on gitter
• Email: [email protected]